Packing gland



Jan. 12, 1943. A. E. BINGHAM 2,308,149-

PACKING GLAND Filed May 24, 1941 '2 Sheets-Sheet l flew/( 4 E. Shrew/7 n7 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 rscxme GLAND Arthur Edward Binghain, Cheltenham, England, assignor to Dowty Equipment Limited, Cheltem Y ham, England Application May 24, 1941, Serial No. 395,109

In Great Britain June 22,1940

" 2Claims. (Cl. 286-26) -This invention relates to packing glands of the kind employed to aiford a fluid-tight sealbetween a high pressure chamber and a plunger slidable with respect thereto.

The present invention consists in a packing gland of the kind set forth, including resilient material confined between the plunger and the cylinder and in axial compression between two confining surfaces, of which that remote from the interior of the high pressure chamber is of less area than that which is directly subjected to the chamber internal pressure whereby to induce in the resilient packing a pressure greater than that prevailinghin the chamber and so to prevent leakage from the interioreof the chamber.

The invention also includes certain constructional features provided to afiord a comparatively simple construction of gland and to avoid deformation and excessive wear of the resilient part of the gland.

In order that it may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation in, section of a gland according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1; while Figure 3 is a section corresponding to Figure 2 showing a modified construction.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral lindicates the plunger and 2 the cylinder between which the gland is required to be operative. The cylinder is formed with a stepped portion 3 against which the gland is tightened up by means of the closure plug 4 which is threaded or otherwise suitably secured in the mouth of the cylinder 2. The plunger passes through the closure plug and the gland and is provided internally with the en larged head 5. The actual gland is composed of three rings, i. e., the steel pressure ring 8, the brass backing ring I, and the intermediate packing ring 8, preferably formed of synthetic rubber or other material which, whilst being resiliently deformable, is substantially non-compressible. About the axis of the plunger and parallel therewith, there extends back from the pressure ring 8 the spaced pegs 9. Their number and crosssectional size are chosen with relation to the pressure which it is desired to exert on the rin 8, as will appear. The pegs 8 are secured to the pressure ring 6 in any convenient manner and I at the packing ring 8 tends to deform the latter.

backing ring 1, but this ring it is unnecessary ring 'i as a greater pressure per unit area effec project through apertures-in the resilient packing ring 8, also entering the apertures ill in the brass backing ring 1. It is preferred in most cases to provideva spacer ring ii which may be provided between the closure plug 4 and the brass to the correct functioning ofthe glandp, i

Whatever may be the absolute value of the 7 pressure of the entrapped fluid against the pressure ring 8, that. same absolute ,value is impressed upon the packing ring], and through the latter upon the backing ring I. The eiiective. area of the packing ring 8 and of the packing ring 1 is, however, less than the area of the pres-t sure ring ii, inasmuch as themes of rings 8 and i is're'duced by the aggregate cross-sectional area-of theholes wherein are received the pegs 9 These pegs transmit pressure to the pressure ring 8, wherein they are secured, but may move axially with respect to the rings 8 and .1, hence transmit no pressure to the latter. It follows that the identical absolute pressure effective over the larger area 8a is transmitted to ring 8 and to tlve upon these rings 8 and I of lesser unitarea. Such greater pressure per unit area effective to press it outwardlymore firmly against the cylindrical wall, inwardly more firmly about the plunger land pegs 8, and axially more firmly-y against the adjoining rings 8 and ii, always with. r a pressure per unit area higher than the pres-- sure per unit area of the'fluid within the cylin-' der. In consequence, leakage outwardly of the gland is effectively prevented at all points. 7

When operating at high pressures there may be some tendency for the edges of the resilient packing ring 8 to be cut or worn by the moving surfaces with which they co-operate. 'To prevent that wearing or cutting therefore, it is proposed 1 to chamber 01! the edges and complete the profile by brass edge protecting rings, as indicated at The pressures developed being extremely high,

it is obvious that the pressure fluid will almost inevitably find its way through the clearances between the plunger and the pressure ring I, the pressure ring and the wall of the cylinder, and even the shanks of the page 9 and the pressure ring, and thence willv enter the space between the pressure ring 8 and the resilient packing ring 8. If such'fluid be there entrapped, it would create liquid bubbles at high pressure, and these, growing with each application of pressure within the cylinder, would seriously distort and l are held somewhat apart, even under the most extreme pressure, to which end may be used one or more layers of foraminated material, as fine wire gauze I5. The wires of such gauze, by their intersection, provide small cells, each in communication with all others, and hence affording channels by which any otherwise entrapped fiuid can find its way back to the clearance spaces by which it entered, and thence back tothe interior of the cylinder.

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 differs'from that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 only in that instead of the spaced pegs 9 there extends back from the pressure ring 6 a'continuous annular flange 9A. The function of'the' arrangement shown in Figure:- 3 is precisely the same as that described with reference It will further be realized that the pressure and backing rings, as well as the intermediate resilient packing ring, may be of materials other than those above described. The materials stated. however, have been found to be particularly suitable for providing a packing effective against high internal pressures of the order of 50,000 lbs. per square inch.

For lubrication of the plunger l, the bush IS in the closure plug 4 is formed with an annulus II which is packed with grease or oil.

'What' I claim is:

1. In a packing gland for sealing a plunger or the like within its chamber, a resiliently deformable packing radially confined between the plunger and the chamber and axially confined between, on the one hand, a fixed backing memher on the face of the resiliently deformable packing remotefrom the interior of the chamber to Figures 1 and 2, but it follows that due to I the continuous formation of the flange 9A, the backing ring and the intermediate packing ring are thenreach composed-of two annular rings located respectively by the plunger and the cylinder-wallto maintain spaced relationship for the reception of the flange 9A. 4

Obviously, the construction may be varied from that hereinbefore described without departing from the nature of the invention. Thus the release of pressure from between the resilient pack ing ring 8 and the back of the steel pressure ring 6 can be achieved by other means..

ceiving the projection, the pressure member thereby having an area corresponding to the area of the projection unsupported by the backing member, such unsupported area being effective to induce in the resiliently deformable member a pressure greater than that internally of the chamber. r

2. An arrangement as set forth'in claim 1, in which the foraminated' means comprises a plurality of gauze layers.

'ARTHUR EDWARD BINQGHAM. 

